[Vision2020] Legislative Newsletter 6 -- Feb 13-17, 2006
ttrail at moscow.com
ttrail at moscow.com
Sat Feb 18 08:18:40 PST 2006
LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER 6--Feb 13-17/2006
We are clearly reaching the halfway point in the 2006 legislative
session. We met for three and a half hours today going over a
package of 8 tax bills. Many comments made include that bills
that go to the Senate side often have strange amendments tacked on
to them by the senators. There is also talk about holding some
Senate bills hostage in order to get them to pass bills the House
Initiated. The House has also identified bills from the Governor
that we can hold hostage if he threatens to veto a key House or
Senate bill. Almost sounds like a bunch of boys playing in the
sandbox.
1. Taxes -- HB422 -- Circuit Breaker -- this passed the House on
a 69-0 margin. The bill would help for people who need help most
with paying their property taxes low income elderly and handicapped
home owners-who are especially hurt by rising valuations on
residential property. The bill raises the qualifying limit to $28,000.
Maximum relief is $1,320.
HB421. This bill passed. It would raise the current homeowners'
exemption from the lesser of 50% of assessed valuation or $50,000,
to the lesser of 50% of $75,000 and index the increase federal cost of
living adjustments in future years. This will benefit Idaho home
owners (72% own their own homes in the state). I voted for the bill
although it does represent a shift that impacts businesses and
agriculture. The impact on agriculture is minimal -- about
50 cents an acre after 380 acres.
HB678 is the big tax bill. It would transfer half of the current 3 mills
of local school M & O levying authority to the state general fund at
the cost of about $125 million. It would cap revenue growth with the
remaining half of the M & O at 3% yearly. Any excess revenues
would go into a new Public School Income Fund. On the downside it
would adversely affect the flexibility that school districts have with
the current M & O levying authority. HB679 would raise the state
sales tax to 5.5% to offset most of the cost of absorbing the 1.5 mills
of local school M&O levying authority. Even with the passage of
the bill there would be a gap of $20-30 million in getting sufficient
funding for schools. Many constituents contacted on both sides of
HB678. I voted against 678 simply because of the overwhelming
number of communications of constituent concerns about upsetting
the traditional M & O support for school districts. There were also
concerns about the state guaranteeing to pick up the $125 million
over the long term. Since HB678 passed I did vote for HB679 since
if it becomes law then we will have to fund it.
2. Moscow Mountain Cedar Grove -- The bill to incorporate the
cedar grove into the State Park system and the resolution calling
for protection of the grove have been approved for printing in
Senator. Schroeder's Resources Committee. Feedback from the
Lands Board at it's February 14th meeting was very positive.
Commissioner Paul Kimmell has been in touch with State Lands
and stakeholders are working on plans for a 25 year lease to protect
the grove. Our immediate goal is to get this commitment in writing,
and then get all of the stakeholders together to work out details.
3. Bonus Pay for High School Math and Science Teachers defeated in
the Senate -- a bill to pay high school math and science teachers a
3-4% bonus was defeated in the Senate on a 21-13 vote.
4. Dog fighting/felony penalty -- HB516 -- we had a hearing in Ag
Affairs, and the bill was held in committee. I'm working on it over
the weekend to clarify some of the terms.
5. Bullying Awareness Week -- The House Ed Committee passed
my resolution on a 19-0 vote. September 10-16, 2006 will be
Bullying Awareness Week in the public schools in Idaho if the
resolution passes. Bullying is one of the leading causes of teenage
suicide. Over 4,000 teenagers commit suicide each year and of these
86% are male.
6. Civic Education Summit -- HCR33 calls for the Secretary of State
and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a statewide
conference on civic education in our public schools. The House
Education Committee passed my resolution on a 19-0 margin.
7. School Facilities Lawsuit -- Two legislative proposals are being
advanced which could help resolve the 13 year long lawsuit. The
Idaho Supreme Court ordered lawmakers to do more to pay for school
construction. Republican legislators are proposing a $25-$35 million
proposal for school construction and creating multimillion dollar
accounts for ongoing maintenance and building. Monies would come
from the state surplus with additional monies of about $9 million/year
to aid with school repair and bond levies in the poorer district. The
Democrats also have a similar proposal with more money attached to
it. The bills will be presented to the House Education Committee this
coming Thursday.
Please send me your comments, recommendations, and suggestions.
e mail ttrail at moscow.com
Representative Tom Trail
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